Metal container



Jan. 1925, 19523959 J. COYLE ET AL METAL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LSZLSQ J. COYLE ET AL METAL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 311- um a-fo-z Patented Jan. 6, i925. 7

states JOHNOOYLE AND JOHN C. TALIAFERRO, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOBS TO CONTINENTAL CAN COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METAL CONTAINER.

Application filed August 16, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN Conn and JOHN C. TALIAFERRO, citizens of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of I Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Containers, of which the following is a description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing and tothe figures of reference marked thereon. I The invention relates to new and useful improvements in metal containers, and more particularly to a metal container wherein one end is hermetically secured to the body portion of the container by a sealing member that can be easily removed.

An object of the invention is to provide a container of the above type wherein an integral sealing member holds the removable end in such close sealed contact with the container body that the contents thereof can be put up under pressure or in vacuum without any liability of leaks occur- A nother object of the invention is to pro vide a container of the above type wherein a flange on the container body and a flange on the end are secured together by an integral sealing ring, and wherein this body flange is rolled so that pressure applied lengthwise of the body portion will force said rolled flange outwardly into the sealing ring and the flanges and sealing material therebetween into close sealed contact.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container of the above typehaving an integral sealing ring for holding the flanges into tight sealing contact with means whereby the sealing ring may be ruptured or torn across in order to release the same from the container body so that the end may be readily removed from the container body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of the above type where in thesealing ring is so formed that, when torn across, it may be readily moved laterally to release the same from the container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container of the above type having a sealing ring for holding the flange on the end and on the body portion of the container in tight sealedcontact with a plurality of breaking members which may be Serial No. 657,761.

used for rupturing the sealing member at a plurality of points to aid in the easy re-' moving ,of the sealing ring from the con-' tainer body.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a container of the above type wherein the end .for closin the container is provided with a depending portion which is adapted to frictionally engage the inner -wall of the container body adjacent the flange thereof, so that said end may be used as a reclosure after the sealing ring has been removed and the container refilled and resealed, if desired.

These and other objects will in art be obvious and will in part be hereina er described.

In the drawings 2- Figure 1 is..a sectional view through a sealed container embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through one side of the container with a sealing member placed on the container preparatory'to the turning of the lower edge thereof underneath the flange on the can body and showing diagrammatically means for holding the ring on the container body, and means for turning the edge underneath the flange;

Fig. 4: is a view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing the lower edge portion of the sealing member turned underneath the flange on the body portion and held clamped by said turning means while pressure is applied in an upwardly direction on the wall of the container body for forcing said wall outwardly into the sealing member and the flanges and the. sealing material therebetween into close sealed contact;

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, but showing an implement applied to the breaking member whereby said breaking member is used as a lever for rupturing the sealing member;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional 100 view through a portion of the container showing a slightly modified form of the invention, and

is a view, similar to Fig. 6, but

Fig. 4

showing a further modified form of the in- 1 5 vention.

The invention is directed broadly to a metal container which is preferably of a cylindrical type. is secured thereto in the ordinary way by a double seam. The other-end of the container is secured thereto by a sealing ring which forms a tight closure so thatfiche container may be used for packing either in vacuum or under pressure. The sealed end ispreferably put- 011 by the manufacturer of the container. The contents are then, packed by the packer, after which the other end is attached by the ordinary\ t outwardly and downwardly. Just beneath double seam.

The end of the container which has the sealing ring attached thereto is provided with an outwardly and downwardly rolled The can .end is formed with a de pending portion adapted to frictionally engage the innersurface of the container body adjacent the flange and isalso provided with a flange which is adapted to overlie the flange on the container body. The depending portion and the flange on the can end are integral and preferably curved at their junction to conform in a general way to the curvature of the adjacent portion of the rolled flange on the body portion of the container.

The can end is held in the body portion by a sealing ring which is circular in form and is made from a single piece of sheet inetal similar to that from which the container is made. The sealing ring overlies the flange on the can end and extends downward across the flanges on the can end and body portion of the container. Vhen said sealing member is secured to the container body, the lower portion of said sealing membar is turned'substantially at right angles well underneath the flange on the container body and is shaped to conform to the underneath surface of said flange. 1 Said sealing ring also extends inwardly from said flanges over thecan end and terminates in an opening which is preferably concentric to the center of the can end. The inwardly projecting portion of the sealing ring is cut radially at a plurality of points so as to form a breaking member or a plurality of breaking members which may be utilized as a pry or lever for-rupturing the metal of the sealing ring along lines parallel with the side edges of the breaking member so that said sealing ring may be readily removed from the container.

The sealing ring is applied to the container and is pressed firmly downwardly onto the can end, and while so pressed, the

is so held by pressure applied to the upperand lower port-ions thereof, pressure is applied to the container body so as to force One end of the container 'sealing ring, and this causes said flanges to be brought into very close contact with each other and the upper and lower parts of the sealing ring.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the invention consists in a cylindrical body portion 1 which is rovided with a flange 2 at one end thereo ,which flange is rolled the flange 2 the container body is preferably contracted, as indicated at 3. This contracted portion is so shaped that the inner wall of the container body is smooth and free from any pockets which would interfere with the emptying of the contents of the container. It is noted that'the flange rolled on the container body is curved at t where said flange joins the wall of the container body.

The contracted end of the container body is closed by a can end 5. As shown in Fig.

.1, the can end is formed with a depending portion 6 and with a flange 7 extending outwardly beyond said depending portion. Said depending portion 6 is shaped so as to conform to and frictionally engage the inner wall of the container bo'dy. Said: flange 7 is preferably rolled upwardly and inwardly,'as indicated at 8.

Suitable sealing material 9 may be used if desired. The flange 7 is integral with the flange 6, and the metal at the juncture between the flange and the depending portion is curved so as to conform in a general way to the curvature 4 between the flange 2 and the wall of the container body. The flange 7. as noted above, overlies the flange 2, while the depending portion 6 extends. into what might be called the mouth offthe container body.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the central port-ionof the can end 5' is formed integral with the lower edge of the depend ing portion 6. As shown in Figures 6 and 'i' of the drawings, the central portion of the cover extends outwardly at 12 over the flange 7 and is formed integral therewith at the outer edge of said flange. In other words. the metal forming the can end, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, is bent inwardly to form the flange -7, and thence downwardly to form the depending portion 6.-

It will be noted that in the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 the depending portion 6 is integral with the'flange 7 and there is a curved portion 10 at their juncture, the same as that described above in connection with Fig. 1.

The cap end is held on the container body by a sealing ring 13. Said sealing ring 13 is formed from a single integral piece of metal preferably of the same character as the metal of the Container body. Said sealing ring has a portion 14 which overlies the flange 7. Said portion 14 extends inwardly at 15 to a. point well within the flanges 2 and 7. It also extends downwardly at 16 across the edges of the flanges 2 and 7.

'dicated at 17.

' sure on the sealing ring will firmly seat the flangeof the container end against the flange on the container body. After which, a series of spinning rollers, one of which is indicated at 18, are forced against the lower part of the depending portion 16 and forces said depending portion underneath theflange on the container body, as indicated in Fig. 5. .The spinning rollers 18 areso mounted that as they move inwardly they change to the position indicated in Fig. 4 so as to press upwardly against this inturned' portion of the sealing ring. Thus it is that the lower portion of the sealing ring is turned at substantially right angles to the depending portion 16 and well 1111- derneath the flange on the body portion and forms in 0a sense, a C-shapcd retaining member housing the flanges.

The spinning roll 18 as shown in the drawings, has a portion 18 which forces the lower part of the sealing ring underneath the flange on the can body and a portion 18 passes over the top of the sealing ring, so that the roller 18' presses on the sealing ring at the parts 14 and 19, and this, together with the pressure of the top roll firmly holds the parts 14 and 19 from movement away from each other, and forces the two flanges into very close contact.

' It will be noted that the flanges are brought into contact by a pressure above and below the same,-as distinguished from a pressure diametrically of the container body. The result is that these flanges are brought into very close contact without in any way contracting the mouth of the container body. This has the advantage of causing the container end to fit with easy friction in the mouth of the container body even after the container has been closed and opened. In other words, the fit between the container end and the container body, when the can is closed, is substantially the same it was before it was closed, so that the container end may be readily removed and readily applied again as a friction top reclosure. I

While the upper and lower portions of the seailng ring are restrained againstmovement away from each other, pressure is applied to the wall of the container in an upper direction, an indicated by the arrow a. The arrow 1; indicates the pressure of the rolls 17 which is in a down-. ward direction and the arrow 0 indicates the pressure of the roller 18 in its final closing position, which pressure is practically opposed to the pressure of the roll 17. The two rolls 17 and 18 are mounted in a head so that they may be simultaneously moved downwardly without releasing their restraining hold on the flanges, and thus bring about the pressure on'the vertical wall of the container body referred to above as upward pressure.

This pressure on the wall of the container body will force said flange thereon upwardly and outwardly. The flange on the can end and the depending portion of the end actingin a sense as a die to roll the curved portion of the flange on the container body outwardly. This outward rolling of the flange on thecontainer body will force the two flanges into very close contact with each other and with the upperand lower portions 14 and 19 of the sealing ring. Thus it is that we are able to make a very tight joint so that the contents of the container body may be put up under pressure or in vacuum without any liability of leaks occurring through this sealing means.

As a means for. removing the sealing ring, we have provided said inwardly extending portion 15 with radial slits. As shown in the drawings, there are four slits 2020 and 21-21. These slits extend outwardly from the central opening in the sealing member, which is indicated at 22, to points adjacent the outer' edge of the portion 14 which overlies the flange 7. The extent to which these slits extend outwardly is not 'a material point, but it is preferred to run them out suiflciently for so that, when the part 23 lying between the radial slits is used as a pry, said sealing member may be ruptured along lines parallel with the side edges of said breaking member 23. The slits 21 form a breaking member 24. Each breaking member is provided with a hole 25 therethrough which is adapted to be placed a fork or knife, asindicated at 26 in Fig. 5. After theknife or fork has been inserted through the opening, it is brought down against the shoulder of the container, the breaking member raised and-the breaking member will become in a sense a part of the implement inserted through the opening therein and serve as a lever or pry when said member 26 is forced further down at its outer end, which results in rupturing the sealing ring along the lines parallelawlth the side edges of the breaking member. This affords a ready means for rupturing the sealing member all the way through.

It will be noted that the inwardly extending portion 15 of the sealing ring extends downwardlyin Fig. 1 only to a very slight degree from the plane of the portion 14. The same is true of Fig. 6. As a result, when the breaking lever has ruptured the metal of the sealing ring all the way across,

the portion left may be readily moved laterally so that the entire sealing ring can then be removed from the container body, leaving merely the container end and the container body as a receptacle with a removable cover. y

As shown in Fig. 1, the central portion of the container end is raised slightly to meet the inner edge and fill the opening 22 in the sealing ring. At the same time, there is a space beneath the breaking member so that the implement. may be readily inserted through the opening therein. This bringing of the inner edge of-the breaking memher into close contact with the end of the container prevents any sawdust or the like used in the packing of the containers for shipment'from getting beneath the sealing member, at least to a great extent. The extreme inner edge of the sealing member is preferably turned back on itself so as to avoid a raw edge of metal, and thus form a better finished product.

In Fig.- 6 of the drawings, the sealing ring is formed with breaking members similar to that shown in Fig. 1. Said sealing ring extends downwardly and substantially fits about a raised ring 27 formed in the contamer end. In Fig. 7 of the drawings, the seahng ring is shown as extending inwardly a short distance and slightly downwardly into an annular recess 28 formed in the can end. At the extreme outer edge of the seal- As noted above, the flange 7 does not necessarily have to be turned back upon itself, as shown in Fig. 1; it may be formed as shown in Figures 6 and 7, or it may extend across the flange 2 on the container body and terminate substantially at the outer edge. thereof. By such a construction of course, less metal would be necessary in the forming of the container end and also in the forming of the sealing ring. We prefer, however, to roll said sealing flange into a hollow flange, as shown in Fig. 1, as this makes a very resilient flange enabling the parts to be brought into tighter contact,

tial to the invention. It is, however, preferable, as it reduces the amount of metal necessary to formthe closing end and the sealing ring. Furthermore, 1t forms a pocket or recess below the flanges which I tends to house and protect the. flanges. and particularly the sealing ring, as the cans are handled'after they are closed. It also provides a package which may be packed 'for shipment without taking up any more space than the ordinary container, as the maximum diameter of the sealed end of the container is substantially the same as the diameter of the end which is double seamed on the container body.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of.

the parts. may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A sealed metal container comprising a body portion having an outwardly rolled hollow resilient flange, an end having a depending portion adapted to frictionally engage the inner wall of the body portion, and an outwardly extending flange overlying the flange on said body portion, said flange and depending portion of the end being Integral, a circular integral sealing ring having a portion adapted to overlie the flange onthe end,

a portion extending downwardly across the edges of the flanges on the end and body portion of the container and well underneath the flange on the body portion and adapted to be pressed upward against the lower portion ofv the flange on the container body so as to grip and hold said flanges in tight sealed contact, and means whereby said sealing ring may be torn across to release the same from the container. e

2, A sealed metal container comprising a body portion having an outwardly rolled hollow-resilient flange, an end having a de pending portion adapted to frictionally engage the inner wall of the body portion, and an outwardly extending rolled flange overlying the flange on said body portion, said flange and depending portion of the end being integral and curved at their juncture to conform substantially to the curved portion of the flange on the body portion adjacent thereto, a sealing ring having a portion adapted to overlie the flange on the end, a portion extending downwardly across the edges of the flanges on the end and body portion of the container and under the flange on the body portion and adapted to be pressed upwardly against the flange on the body portion so as to grip and hold said flanges in tight sealed contact, said sealing ring having an integral breaking member projecting therefrom adapted to be used as a lever or pry for rupturing the metal of said sealing ring to release the same from the container body. 7

3. A sealed metal container comprising a body portion having an outwardly rolled hollow resilient flange, an end having a depending portion adapted to frictionally engage the inner wall of the body portion, and an outwardly extending flange overlying the flange on said body portion, said flange and depending portion of the end being integral and curved at their juncture to conform substantially to the curved portion of the flange on the body portion adjacent thereto, a sealing material between said flanges, a circular integral sealing ring having a portion adapted to overlie the flange on the end, a portion extending downwardly across the edges of the flanges on the end and body portion and adapted to be pressed upward against the flange on the container body so as to grip and hold said flanges and sealing material in sealing contact, said sealing ring extending inwardly from said flanges and cut radially from the inner edge outwardly to points adjacent the outer edge of the flange on the end at a plurality of places so as to form a breaking member for rupturing the metal of the sealing ring in line with the side edges of said breaking member.

4:. A sealed metal container comprising a body portion having an outwardly rolled hollow resilient flange, an end havin a depending portion adapted to frictiona ly engage the inner wall of the body portion, and an outwardly extending flange overlying the flange on said body portion, said flange and depending portion of the end being integral and curved at their juncture to conform substantially to the curved portion of the flange on the body jacent thereto, a sealing material between said flanges, a circular integral sealing ring having a portion adapted to overlie the flange on the end, a portion extending downwardly across the edges of the flanges on the end and body portion and adapted to be pressed upwardly against the flanges so as to grip and hold said flanges and sealing material in sealing contact, said sealing ring extending inwardly from said flanges and cut radially from the inner'edge outwardly to points adjacent the outer edge of the flange on the end at a plurality of places so as to form a breaking member or rupturing the metal of the sealing memportion adher in line with the side edges of said break ing member, said breaking member having an opening therethrough adapted to receive an implement which may be placed on the edge of the container and operate as a lever in the rupturing of the metal of the 'sealing ring.

5. A sealed metal container comprising a body portion having an outwardly rolled hollow resilient flange,an end having a depending portion adapted to frictionally engage the inner wall of the body portion, and an outwardly extendin rolled flange overlying the flange on sai body portion,

-said flange and depending portion of the end being integral and curved at their juncture to conform substantially to the curved portion of the flangeon the body portion adjacent thereto, a sealing material between said flanges, a circular integral sealing ring having a portion adapted-to overlie the flange on the end, a portion extending downwardly across the edges of-the flanges on the end and body portion of the container and underneath the flange on the body portion and adapted to grip and hold said flanges and sealing material in sealed contact, said sealing ring extending inwardly toward the center of the container end and having an opening therethrough concentric with said end, said end being shaped so as to extend upinto and fit the opening in the sealing ring and provide a space beneath the sealing ring adjacent the flanges on the can end, said sealing ring being provided with a plurality of radial slits at opposite sides of the container body extending from the central opening outwardly to points adjacent the outer edge of the flange on the container end whereby a breaking member is formed, said breaking member having an opening therethrough adapted to receive an implement which may be placed against the shouldered edge of the container for forming a lever of the breaking member to rupture the sealing member along lines parallel with the side edges of the breaking member.

6. A sealed metal container comprising a body portion having an outwardly and downwardly hollow resilient rolled flange, a container end having a depending portion adapted to frictionally engage the inner wall of the body portion adjacent said flange, and an outwardly extending flange adapted to overlie the flange 0n the body portion, a sealing. material between the flanges, a sealing ring adapted to overlie the flange on said container end, extend across the outer edges of the flanges and underneath the flange on the body portion, said depending portion of the end and the flange thereof being joined by a curved integral portion whereby, when the upper and lower portions of the sealing other, the sealing material and the upper member are held from movement away from and lower portions of the sealing ring thereeach other, and a pressure is applied to the wall of the said container body in a by forming a tight seal for the container.

direction toward the sealing ring, said In testimony whereof, We affix our signa- 5 flange on the container body will be forced outwardly into the sealing member and thus force the flanges into contact with each JOHN COYLE. JOHN C. TALIAFERRU. 

